Fence-wire fastener.



No. 703,756. Patented July I, I902.

M. M. BENSTEB.

FENCE WIRE FASTENER.

fAnplication filed Aug. 6, 1901') (No Model.)

IN VEN TOR.

)genza/a ,Bemar.

A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFI E-1,

MENZO M. BEN STER, OF GETTYSBURG, SOUTH DAKOTA.

FENCE-WIRE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,756, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed August 5,1901. Serial No. 70,968. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MENZO M. BENSTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gettysburg, county. of Potter, and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Wire Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in fasteners or clamps for securing the line-wires of wire fences to.the posts thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiective device to be substituted for the staples ordinarily employed and which are objectionable, inasmuch as they. do not securelyjhold the fence-wires, but readily pull out and, falling 'to the ground, become lost. Moreover, the wooden posts are injured by the frequent insertion and withdrawal of the staples.

The fastener of the present invention consists of a wire band or strap designed to be bent around or partially around a fence-post and provided at each end with a pin or nail to be forced into the post and an intermediate pin or nail for supporting the longitudinal wire, which when secured by the fastener passes between the front of the post andthe wire band or strap. The intermediate pin or nail serves to properly space the line-wires of the fence and prevent them from drooping, and the pins or nails at the ends of the fastener securely hold the same against removal and resist lateral strains on the wires.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates one form of wire-fastener made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a modification thereof. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 illustrate further modifications. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of afence-post, showing the fastenor applied thereto; and Fig. 8 is a perspective of the same.

The invention is capable of embodiment in various forms, some of which are illustrated in the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 indicates a strand of wire bent to form an eye 11, substantially in termediate of the ends thereof. This eye carries a looped pin 12. Each of the ends of the wire 10'isbent back upon itself and twisted about the strand, as at 12 13, providing the loops 14 and 15, respectively, and threaded on these loops are pins 16.

The construction shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1, except that the intermediate eye 11 is dispensed with and the pin or nail 17 is threaded upon the wire 10 through the loop thereof.

The modification of Fig. 3 illustrates a very simple and inexpensive fastener and one that may be easily made. The pin 17 of Fig. 2,carried by the wire 10,is employed; but the ends 18 of the strand are pointed and bent inwardly at about a right angle, so as to be readily driven into the fence-post.

Fig. 4 shows still another form of the fastoner, employing in this instance a metallic band 19. The ends of the band are provided with holes, as is also the intermediate portion thereof, and passed through these holes are nails 20, provided withprojections, as 21, to prevent their removal from the band and becoming lost, or, in lieu of the projections 21,

the nails may be flattenedf'or enlarged near their points, as seen in Fig. 6.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 the intermediate pin 17 of Fig. 2 is employed, and the end pins or nails 16 are threaded on the strand 10 in the same manner,'-the' ends of the strand being headed or provided with loops 23 24for retaining the pins thereon.

Referring to Fig. 6,.the strand 10 is provided with an intermediate eye 25, similar to that shownv in Fig. 1, and the ends of the strand are bent to form eyes 26 27. The securing means consist of nails, such as 28, which are passed through the eyes 25, 26, and 27, as shown, the said nails being slightly flattened near their points in order to keep them from being separated from the strand 10. The manner of securing the line-wires of a fence with the fastener is illustrated'in Figs. 7 and 8. The fastener shown is that of Fig. 2.

The pin 17 is first driven into the post, radially with relation thereto and at the proper height from the ground. The line-wire 22 having been stretched and placed so as to rest on the head of the said pin, one end of the strand 10 is drawn over the wire 22 and carried partially around the post, to the rear side thereof and the pin 16 thereof, forced into the post at about a right angle to the loop to which it is connected, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The opposite end of the strand is then carried around the post and secured in a like manner, the pin thereof drawing the strand 10 tightly around the post and binding the line-wire securely thereto. Preferably the strand is of such length as to only partially encircle the post, although, if desired, it may be made to go entirely around the same.

The fastener is very simple and is readily removed when it is desired to take down the line-wires to change the position of the fences, as is sometimes done on large tracts of land for the purpose of changing pasturage, or it may be left attached to the post'when the wires are removed, as onl'yone nail need be drawn for that purpose, thereby facilitating the securing of the same or new wires to the posts.

By making the nails or pins permanently a part of the fasteners the number of parts is reduced, thereby greatly aiding in the erection of fences, especially in cold weather and when gloves are worn.

It will be obvious that the invention is susceptible of various changes, and I do not limit myself to the constructions illustrated so long as the spirit of the invention is not departed from.

I claim as my invention- 1. A fastener for wire fences, consisting of a strand or band designed to be bent around a fence-post to secure a line-wire thereto, and having a nail at each end thereof, and a nail carried by the strand or band and located between the end nails.

2. A fastener for wire fences, consisting of a strand of'wire designed to be bent around a fence-post to secure a line-wire thereto and having a nail looselyconnected to each end thereof, and a nail loosely connected to the strand and located between the end nails.

3. In a Wire-fastener, in combination, a fence-post, a line-wire, and a fastener comprising a strand of wire bent around the post and having an intermediate pin and a pin flexibly connected to each end of the strand, the line-wire passing between, the post and the strand and resting upon the intermediate pin of the latter.

4. In a wire-fastener, in combination, a fence-post, a line-wire, and a fastener comprising a strand of wire or band having a pin. flexibly connected to each end, a pin intermediate of the ends of the strand, the strand being designed to be passed over the line- Wire and the ends bent around the post and secured by the pins, and the strand being of sufficient length to partially or entirely encircle the post.

5. A fastener for wire fences, consisting of a strand designed to be bent around a fencepost to secure a line-wire thereto and having an eye at each end thereof and an intermediate eye, and a nail engaging ea'ch'of said eyes.

6. In a wire-fastener, in combination, a fence-post, a line-wire, and a strand passing over the line-Wire and about the post and having its ends secured to the side of the post opposite to the line-Wire, and a nail loosely connected to each of the said ends for securing the same.

MENZO M. BENSTER.

WVitnesses:

W. A. HERRON, F. D. TEALL. 

